Chapter 2

"The victim has deep periodontal pockets. They might have had tooth problems," Michael observed.

Turning to look at Charles, Michael recovered his calm and said, "If there are no missing person reports, we can go through the treatment records at various dental clinics. We may be able to identify the victim that way."

I smiled bitterly.

Charles nodded in silence. After turning around, he kicked the door so hard that half of it was broken off. He barked, "Get here, all of you! No one gets to go home until we've found the culprit!"

Out of habit and respect for the dead, Michael gently placed the head above the torso. Then, he bowed his head, saying, "Don't worry. I promise I'll bring justice to you."

I felt a dull pain in my heart.

Would Michael still behave like that if he had known that the corpse was mine?

Just then, his phone rang. It was a WhatsApp voice call.

Michael glanced at the profile picture and the contact name "Dave (Seafood Seller)" on the screen. He frowned a little, but he eventually decided to pick up.

The caller, Dave Clark, spoke up. "Hello, Dr. Summers. Sorry for bothering you, but have you seen Ruth recently? She hasn't opened her stall for a week or so, and she's not answering any calls. No one answered the door when I went to her place, either. Is she with you?"

Dave's stall was right next to mine at the marketplace. I used to call him Mr. Clark as if he were an old man, but in reality, he was just two years older than me.

His family ran a huge seafood business, but he kept a low profile. He was very friendly too, and he always tried to help anyone in need.

Before Elena passed away, Michael and I would always buy fish from him.

I tilted my head backward. I could barely endure the stinging in my eyes.

Elena and Michael loved the fish dishes I made, but ever since that fateful day, Michael had stopped eating fish altogether.

"That monster doesn't deserve to be with me," Michael replied.

He would feel physical disgust whenever he heard my name. If he could, he would probably just toss his phone into the trash can after hearing my name on it and disinfect his hands over and over again.

On the other end of the line, Dave was stunned. He seemed to have hesitated for a while before sighing and saying, "Dr. Summers, I know I'm just an outsider, so I have no right to interfere. Still, I'm very sure that Ruth isn't a heartless woman.

"Moreover, the police have already confirmed that under those circumstances, Ruth definitely had no malicious intentions. She wasn't leaving your fiancée to die on purpose. I know that you're suffering from the loss, but you and Ruth—"

"Enough!" Michael coldly cut Dave off as anger welled up in his eyes. "If you're aware that you're just an outsider, then you should watch your mouth. Also, that monster is not my sister anymore!"

With that, he ended the call and blocked Dave.

When he looked up, he saw Charles standing at the entrance with a complicated expression.

"Uh, I dropped my cigarettes." Charles pointed to the area below the autopsy table, where a box of cigarettes lay.

After retrieving the cigarettes, Michael walked over to Charles and handed the box to the latter. Then, he locked the door.

Charles said, "I know it's hard for you, Dr. Summers, but the evidence at the scene was personally evaluated by your mentor, whom you respect the most. He has never made any mistakes throughout his career, so you should be well aware of what that means."

He tightened his grip on the cigarette box as he continued, "Please stop torturing Ruth. She's been suffering all this while."

Michael scoffed. "Who hasn't been suffering, then? Elena? Me? Or poor Shirley? Because of that monster's selfishness, Elena was stabbed 56 times at the door, and the culprit is still on the loose!

"You people have no idea what it's like, but you want me to forgive her? Listen here. Even if she were burned to ashes right in front of my eyes, it still won't appease my hatred!"

Michael's furious voice echoed in the corridor.

My heart ached as if it were torn apart.